Morning journal and courier., 1887-05-26
PARNELL'S GRANDFATPER. His Commission Was Signed by Am
 drew Jackson in Letters Three Inches
 Long.


 drew Jackson in Letters Three Inches
 LOns.
 From the Kansas City Times.]
 ''Come in and hear this story" said the Hon. Thomas L. James, as I stopped at the door of the directors room of the Lincoln National bank of New York this week. s'You know Pay Director Cunningham of the navy, of course. He says that he has letter from Mir. Parnell which, when compared with the London Times forgery, proves the origina al of the latter is spurious"
 ''Yes," said Mir. Cunningham, land there is an interesting bit of history connected with the letter I have. I said to Mr. Parnell one day that he came honestly by his hatred of British oppression, for his grandfather, Rear Admiral Charles Stewart, was one of the best fighters who ever shed lustre on the United States navy and the only officer since John Paul Jones who, with one ship ia fair fight, captured two of the enemy. He didn't seem to know much about it, but the country was wild with enthusiasm over it at the time. It was in February, 1915, as you remember, that Capt. Stewards ship, the Constitution, fell in with the British ships of war Cyane thirty-four guns, and Levant, twenty one guns, off the cast of Spain, and after fight of forty minutes captured both. Stewart lost three men killed and thirteen wounded, while the enemy lost thirty-fiv killed and forty-two wounded. The Levant was subsequently recaptured by the British squadron of three ships, which reached the American position under cover of dense fog, but Stewart saved his own ship and the Cyane and kept her prisoners. When he returned to this country he was pre- scented by the Common Council of New York with the freedom of the city in a gold box, and with his officers was entertained at great public dinner. The legislature of Pennsylvania voted him gold-hilted sword, and Congress tendsred him vote of thanks, and ordered a gold medal struck in his honor.
 ssI told Mr. Parnell this, and that I had his grandfather's commission as commodore, signed by President Andrew Jackson. That commission is curiosity. In the first place, it was written by hand; all the commissions of United States officers were written before the time of President Van Buren, after that they were printed in ordinary type until the time of Gen. Grant. Now they are beauti- fully engraved. The parchment in Andrew Jackson's time was coarse, like leather, al- most as thick as this sheet of plotting paper. Jackson's signatures on Commodore Stewards commission is remarkable one. The first initial is at least three inches long and cor respondingly heavy, and the remainder of the name is proportioned to the first letter. You can imagine how Jackson, when he took his pen to write 1t, said: Now, this is for my old friend, Charley Stewart, and I'll give him signature that will show him that I mean it.
 "Old Hickory did things for effect, some times, you know. Chief Justice Fancy told me of a remarkable instance. He was with Jackson when a committee from Philadelphia was announced, who desired to see him about the United States bank. He was in most affable mood, but said to Fancy: T. must prepare myself for their reception He staiked up and down the room for minute or two, ran his fingers through his hair, put his clothing away, and he grew red in the face. When the committee came in he roared at and buIlied them, and after they had gone asked Fancy if he didn't think he had properly im- pressed them.
 q offered to give MT. Parnell his grandfath- er,s com mission, and when he received it he wrote me the letter referred to. Good day. I'm off for Washington"